Brazil's second‑crop corn harvest hit by weather and pest challenges

Irregular rainfall and a drier dry season are stressing Brazil's second‑crop corn (safrinha) as harvest approaches. Experts note that reduced soil moisture in the MATOPIBA region and other Central‑West states heightens physiological stress and boosts pest populations, such as gall midges and caterpillars. In Maranhão, a delayed soybean harvest cut the planting window for second‑crop corn by 19.6%, prompting some growers to switch to more drought‑tolerant crops. Meanwhile, in Mato Grosso do Sul only 0.2% of the area had been harvested by the third week of June, lagging 4.1 percentage points behind the same period last year because frequent rains prevented machines from operating. Forecasts call for continued irregular rain, with possible accumulations of 10–50 mm, which could further slow harvesting progress. The combined climate and pest pressures are prompting growers to adopt more precise management practices to protect yields.